Etymology
From Middle English antiquyte, antiquite, antiquytee, a borrowing from Old French antiquité, antiquitet, from Latin antiquitas, from antiquus. Equivalent to "antique" +‎ -ity. See antique, antic. Compare with French antiquité.
Noun
antiquity (countable and uncountable, plural antiquities)
- Ancient times; former ages; times long since past
- Cicero was an eloquent orator of antiquity.
- The ancients; the people of ancient times.
- That such pillars were raised by Seth all antiquity has avowed. —Sir W. Raleigh.
- (obsolete) An old gentleman.
- You are a shrewd antiquity, neighbor Clench. —B. Jonson.
- (often) A relic or monument of ancient times; as, a coin, a statue, etc.; an ancient institution.
Derived terms
- antiquitarian
- antiquitarianism
- antiquitary
- antiquitist
- antiquitization
- antiquitize
- antiquitous
- classical antiquity
- Late Antiquity
Credits
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